A reporter for Reuters.com discovered that post-traumatic stress disorder can affect anyone, not just soldiers. In fact, he found himself suffering from PTSD after a long stint of reporting on war in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Discover how his PTSD affected him and how he finally found help.

The Source of the Trauma

Dean Yates worked in Southeast Asia and in the Middle East for many years, covering stories related to the terrors of war and the tragedy of loss in those regions. After a tsunami, Yates visited a mosque in Banda Aceh and was faced with well over 100 water-bloated bodies. He almost stepped on someone’s severed hand as he walked the blown-apart debris of the Sari nightclub in Bali. He heard the heart-broken wails of the bereaved when members of his team were killed.

Time for a Change

Yates’s time in the Middle East and Asia finally ended. After 20 years of doing his duty and reporting the news, he wanted to rest and to settle down. With his family, he moved to Evandale, a tiny village on Tasmania, an island near Australia. The setting was idyllic, and Yates should have been able to rest and refresh himself. Instead, he began to show strange symptoms.

The Troubling Symptoms

Yates discovered that he was now very sensitive to loud noises. He lost his temper easily, and he became impatient at the slightest provocation. He was miserable, angry, and irritable, and his moods affected everyone in the family. He mentioned sounds, smells, and sights that would be imprinted in his mind forever. Sometimes, he wouldn’t leave his bed in the morning, yet he wasn’t sleeping well. Stress triggered feelings of panic and flashbacks. His wife Mary began to suspect that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

A Sufferer In Denial

Yates had never expected to struggle with PTSD. He thought of himself as a strong, rational person, someone who could be emotionally detached and logical even when faced with a horrific scene. However, he didn’t realise what a profound effect his work was having on him as he faced human pain and horror for decades.

Treatment and Therapy

Fortunately for Yates, his wife persuaded him to visit a psychiatrist, who was quickly able to identify his PTSD and diagnose it. After months of taking anti-depressants while sinking deeper into drinking and depression, Yates finally allowed himself to be admitted to a psych ward for PTSD patients. With a change in medication and some intensive therapy, Yates was finally able to deal with his anxiety, anger, guilt, and other underlying emotions. Following his time in the psych ward, he was gradually able to recover more of the person he used to be.

Getting Help for PTSD

Many reporters and journalists can handle their work without lasting repercussions, but some face the same types of struggles that Yates did. PTSD also affects individuals who have been through a car accident, a sexual assault, or some other violent and wounding event. If you or a loved one have been through something like this, find a psychiatrist in Singapore to help you cope with your feelings before they become entrenched and buried. If you think you may be suffering from PTSD, even if the trauma occurred many years ago, contact Adelphi Psych Medicine Clinic. A trained psychologist in Singapore can help you find the peace and the emotional balance that you crave. You owe it to yourself and to your loved ones.